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Saturday, July 23, 2016

The Cure at Splendour in the Grass (07-23-16)

July 23rd, 2016Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay, Australia
The Cure play the Amphitheatre Stage from 9:09 - 11:37 PM
Start times in the US are 4 am Pacific, 5 am Mountain, 6 am Central, 7 am Eastern

Setlist: Plainsong, Pictures of You, Closedown, High, A Night Like This, Sleep When I'm Dead, Push, In Between Days, Friday I'm in Love, The End of the World, Lovesong, Just Like Heaven, From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea, Want, The Hungry Ghost, Disintegration

Honestly, it starts to become very boring. I hope the european tour will be VERY different, cos these setlist are predictable, the same as 8-10 years ago..always the same. I will not spend about 100 euros for that. I want hear something special. I dont care about hits.

Satisfaction for the new 20years old funs but not something special for old funs. 1 or 2 new songs is not enough. If you do that do it complitely. New album is the only way to make the old funs happy. Especially dark album not something like 4:13D.

37 years to cover in three hours to thousands of people. 80% of whom would never have known about you had it not been for hearing your hit(s) on the radio. What are you going to do? Sorry Luca, but the world (thankfully) didn't end in the 80's so deal with it & stop whining.

it's just my point of view. For ex. i would love to hear one more time The Promise, cos it's a sort of "new" song..or labyritnth..or the scream, one more time..or I DONT know, siamese twins..i just boored about hits. really. too many. But it's ok, it's not mandatory to go to their concert. enjoy!

it's just my point of view. For ex. i would love to hear one more time The Promise, cos it's a sort of "new" song..or labyritnth..or the scream, one more time..or I DONT know, siamese twins..i just boored about hits. really. too many. But it's ok, it's not mandatory to go to their concert. enjoy!

I agree this setlist nothing special compared to others. But having been to a show live, they're sounding really good regardless of what they play. Who knows if and when they'll tour again if you have a chance to see them i wouldn't pass up the opportunity.

I have to agree too, having followed the entire tour via CoF (thank you for all your hard work Craig!), I would have been disappointed by this show as it had no "!!" songs in it. If I'd been able to attend, I would have been knocked out by it of course. I have to stick by my opinion that no more songs will be unveiled until the European leg starts. Some of the darker material should be trotted back out in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, etc. The WWII cities and countries always seem to bring out the best in the band (for the worst of reasons, but no complaints here).

Surprised no one has asked the inevitable question "Will they play Down Under"? LOL.At this point it's not likely it will appear, based on the last 1 or 2 setlists...it would be too much of an outlier. I personally don't care either way, but if there is any b-side from that era I would really love to hear, it would no doubt be Without You (the chances of that happening are likely slim to none...haha).

I'm generally awake during enough hours of the day to catch any show as it's taking place live, but the 4 am start time was a bit tough even by my crazy standards. 😴 Caught the first third of the show but eventually went into a hypnagogic state, before finally drifting off to la la land.💤 Upon awakening a few hours later, a double whammy of The Cure awaited me...a great way to start the day!...lol. Better than coffee (or tea). 🌅 First, it gradually dawned on me that Robert Smith has made yet another appearance in my dreams...(RS, if you are reading this, you have now officially invaded both my conscious and subconscious minds...😮 👻 )...Second, I happened to notice I'd left my headphones on, and Pandora was still playing...and not just playing any old song, but Adele's cover of Lovesong (of course it's on a station completely unrelated to either Adele or The Cure).I only recently learned of the cover but had never bothered to listen to it as I am not a fan of Adele. It's actually not too bad....very jazz oriented. I think she called it a bossa nova cover? The version by Tori Amos is still tops in my books. The piano really makes the difference in Tori's version. Now if only Sade could do a cover ...though I'm not sure if she's a Cure fan. If anyone could pull off a jazzy version of a Cure song, Sade would be able to so with flying colors, with her smooth voice and distinct style.🎤

Is this too much information? Complete rubbish? Probably, but I don't really care what anyone thinks.....I'm sure Marc the Cure or Siouxsie's Cure or whatever the heck his name is will come up with a snarky comment soon ...haha....Not planning on toning down or walking back the comments anytime soon, though. LOL....😯 😄

Piggie. We must be of the same... I won't get into it too much but I had the same experience with keeping my eyes open, in fact I used the same terminology... It actually was an amazing experience to finish a long long work day, deal with real life, and just wait for the last show of the N. American tour; drifting into to the state of hypnongia to wake up to him saying "this will be a 17 seconds encore" then falling right into sleep... I am commenting because I had the same experience but also because like you, I really enjoyed reading your experience.... I don't talk much or express much about my deep admiration for the band, and especially for Robert... How I try not to think about how much I just want to hug this stranger that has been familiar with me for over half my life.... That I don't even know... Who I am more familiar with then those that I've known for ten years, that I've spent many work days with.... To me it's actually heartbreaking... So I keep all those little thoughts in a tiny box in my memory... I use to keep a journal for 10 years and wrote down all my cure experiences and also just personal events in general... It was lost in the plane back from England years ago... I go to shows this tour and it's unbelievable that this man, the other bandmates, and the music, I've known for more than half my life... How can this not be apart of me? And when it's over, when the tour is finally complete.... I am left.... Lost... I've had memories for so many years... And the reason why I keep following them is because they are familiar with me... It all started as a young lost teen... And has followed me until a middle age adult... And even though they are familiar with me they still are like a mirage... Like the sand through the hands in the song a letter to Elise... And I don't know how many times I cried remembering looking up at Robert singing "it can never be the same" and he has tears rolling down his face, which in turn made me weep and feel a stroke of heat the flooding my face as I looked towards the ground to bury my eyes.... I didn't think I would express anymore feelings publicity... And I know it's a sad post... But in the end, I am a forever grateful curefan to be living underneath the same stars as these people, as especially Robert, walks through these more toned and washed colors of golden age... As I too, find time passing by... And the reflections are becoming stronger, in that the realization of only living once is seen... So to experience everything from a. Simple smile to a passionate song, live with this band is more than a pleasure, but an absolute gift... And those sad memories are just happy memories that have spent a little too much time drifting....So thank you piggy... Ur not alone, even though Adele wasn't playing when I awoke....

..."even though they are familiar with me they are still like a mirage" ...yes I feel this too, and I feel like it's a blessing as it allows space to wonder about what it is I'm really feeling drawn to. I have a similar experience with Bowie, where I feel that again and again he encourages one to let go of pre-conceptions of what we think he is ...and if someone is not definable in any way then what is left (...or right... or centre)? I hear this in the lyrics for End ("I am none of these things"). I think in truth we are all beyond definition, yet we find ourselves caught in a 'reality' of perceiving ourselves in a definable finite way ....and for me I think this is why I have felt drawn to beings such as RS and Bowie, because it helps to wake me up, to make me recognise something that in some way I have always known ...and here's the hook, although I may feel like I recognise it more when I look in his direction, if I want to hang onto the experience of him then I never quite reach the undefined space that am being helped to wake up to ... (Ok..End, followed by To The Sky). And here I am talking of non-attachment, and eagerly looking forward to the Melbourne show in a few days! That will be a test of whether can continue experiencing in an expansive way, or whether will get struck by urge to jump on stage and hug RS! :p

How this post made me smile... Thank you for sharing... I could elaborate but it really does feel like pulling my teeth out or just falling into a world of despair when I express all these thoughts I have, and can create, about the significance of this band, the memories I have etc... So I will just leave it at;

I simply refrain myself from jumping on stage and hugging mister smith for two reasons: wait 3, I know someone is gonna get me before I actually am able to jump on stage. I would like to see the complete show, not only because I actually want to see it, but I paid for it. I do t buy a burrito and only take a bite out of it and then throw it away. Lastly, I could not hug someone that just can not accept it... And that would only be because he is singing on stage I would hope.... Thank you for sharing your thoughts and have an amazing time at he show, I would love to hear how it went for you...

To those that want to share their cure thoughts and experiences, and if there isn't any current news going on, in what way are these less frequent discussions amongst fellow cure fans harming you? I find it strange that it has bothered you so much that you have to frown upon what the cure is all about to some, and that is creativeness, strangeness, real life and most of all, to at least me, conversing with others that have the same feelings.... I hope this post too rien, doesn't annoy you like the last few that seem to have stuck a nerve... Namaste

Harold....we must be cut from the same cloth...Your post was deeply touching. I was nearly on the verge of tears....and I am not particularly sentimental. I do recall when RS announced the 17 Seconds encore. It's ironic you fell asleep at that point... (Especially if it was during At Night with its references to slumber). All kidding aside, your mention of the sand falling through hands (Ltr to Elise) really struck a chord in me. Ever since I was a teenager, the powerful image of the falling sand through clutching hands has remained "ingrained" in my mind (pardon the pun), becoming symbolic of many things in life...most notably failed relationships, ones who have gotten away, and missed opportunities in general. The idea of slipping sand brings to mind another favorite song called Second Skin (The Chameleons) which also evokes the same striking imagery: "Like when you fail to make the connection, you know how vital it is. Or when something slips through your fingers you know how precious it is.And you reach the point when you knowIt's only your second skin."

Sorry if this is too personal. I too try to keep my feelings about the band under wraps (well, except most recently...lol). Not sure what's gotten into me, even though I've been a long time reader of COF, I've mostly kept my distance and almost never posted. It must be The Robert effect?

Most people in "real life" are completely unaware of my Strange Attraction to the band, generally only those closest to me are are aware, and even then they are completely baffled by it. On rare occasions it's revealed to acquaintances or colleagues. Crazy story - I once mentioned my interest in the band in a casual conversation with my former (very, very awesome) boss. She apparently remembered months later, when she created a custom card with the band prominently shown on the cover for my birthday (she is not a fan). I was shocked and delighted. The card remained on my office wall for over a year. Eventually I moved on, but to this day I still have the card and remember it with fondness.

Just like you and Word on a Wing, I have also felt the urge to hug RS in the middle of watching him either live or online (virtual hug?). This coming from someone who is not at all touchy-feely (I'm well known for resisting hugs...with few exceptions). Must be some sort of universal instinct or feeling amongst the die-hards..LOL. Word on a Wing hit the nail on the head about End and the idea of attachment. With RS and company, letting go is an uphill battle...The hugging urge was especially acute when I saw the band performing The Last Day of Summer earlier in the tour. It was the first time I was moved to tears during a live performance. I was so embarrassed..but it couldn't be helped. I must've been the only person in my section who reacted so dramatically.

Sorry to hear about your journal...that sounds devastating. At least you can carry the memories with you indefinitely...Oh my goodness, when I read the part of your post about aging it suddenly dawned on me that I've now been a fan for exactly half of my life! Yikes. Look forward to many more years...

As usual my post has become a bit excessive.... I got a little carried away (again). Thanks for your beautiful and heartfelt post...I'm glad you came out of the woodwork to share these deeply personal experiences. It was an absolute delight and gift to read it.

Completely agree with Harold on the above. Nothing more "real life" than one's own Cure experiences. Sure, sometimes the "creative writing" might get a little out of hand, and the posts might be a tad excessive to some, but all of the above posts were on topic, all were Cure related. Nothing wrong with sharing experiences or opinions, and certainly no reason for the hostility.(I had a feeling the haters would come out of the woodwork, it's almost inevitable at this point...)

I was at the Splendour show - travelled there from Sydney with my 15 year old after being a fan for 25 years - and I loved it especially after staking out a spot on the barrier 2 hours before The Cure started. It was the closest I've been in 5 Cure shows and just to see and watch Robert up that close was a dream. They sounded great, and yes there were a lot of common songs and hits, but the crowd was made up mainly of 20-ish festival goers who are not necessarily Cure fans. I'm seeing them again in Sydney tonight and hoping for a few different songs but if they don't mix it up I don't care, I still love them and who knows when I'll see them again.